Use volume +/- keys for paging in Kindle and Overdrive

[pruss]

I've been really annoyed by the fact that one needs to swipe to switch pages in Overdrive, and I think the Kindle app also had the same issue. So I modified my mod of the Gingerbread keyboard to do paging in Overdrive and Kindle by pressing volume up/down, in the way that works in all decent ebook readers. :-)

If you want other apps to have this, let me know and I'll add them.

Eventually, I might add customization as to which apps get this.

http://code.google.com/p/oc-gb-keyboard/downloads/list

Alas, this won't work if you have some other favorite input method.

To use this, you need to enable the Gingerbread Keyboard in the device's Input Settings, and then you need to select the Gingerbread Keyboard as your input method, by long-tapping on an input field in some app.

[pruss]

Looks like I'm the only one interested in this--nobody has downloaded it. :-(

I just hate flipping pages by tapping the screen or swiping--hard keys are much more comfortable for me.

[=X=]

I think it's a neat feature but I don't like re-mapping default keys and I don't use the default gingerbread keyboard.

Also most apps allow swyping, but are you aware most apps also allow a tap on the top/bottom corners to advance or decrease the page?

=X=

[Marseille]

I'm a big fan of hard keys as well, which is part of the reason I haven't used overdrive in months. But I find the volume keys to be a little uncomfortable to use. I prefer to use my arrow keys on the keyboard, and mostly hold my TP2 in book form. I wish I could read library books in moon+.

But I do think it's cool you posted this solution. I actually visited the page to see how complex it was, and quickly decided it was over my head. In addition, I've also become attached to swiftkey, so I'd be hesitant to switch keyboards.

[bwaldron]

Originally Posted by pruss

Looks like I'm the only one interested in this--nobody has downloaded it. :-(

I don't use Overdrive -- but this is already built-in on recent versions of the Kindle App (from the Home screen, select More -> Settings -> Volume Buttons Control)

[yelloguy]

I can see the benefit. Unfortunately, the volume keys on my device (Nook Color) are clunky and not precise at all. Sometimes when I press the Vol- ONCE it take me all the way to the bottom of the page in the browser as if I have held it down for long. Due to that I have eschewed the use of Vol keys for paging. It is a little jarring to lose your position when you are reading.

But I can see on another device I would definitely switch to using Vol keys for paging.

[pruss]

Originally Posted by yelloguy

I can see the benefit. Unfortunately, the volume keys on my device (Nook Color) are clunky and not precise at all. Sometimes when I press the Vol- ONCE it take me all the way to the bottom of the page in the browser as if I have held it down for long. Due to that I have eschewed the use of Vol keys for paging. It is a little jarring to lose your position when you are reading.

But I can see on another device I would definitely switch to using Vol keys for paging.

That's because volume keys auto-repeat quite fast. The 1.0.7 version of my input method doesn't auto-repeat at all with the volume keys, at least in Overdrive and Kindle, and thereby solves the problem. I would hope that all ebook readers that use volume keys do that. Certainly the APV PDF viewer does. :-)

[pruss]

Originally Posted by David Marseilles

I'm a big fan of hard keys as well, which is part of the reason I haven't used overdrive in months. But I find the volume keys to be a little uncomfortable to use. I prefer to use my arrow keys on the keyboard, and mostly hold my TP2 in book form. I wish I could read library books in moon+.

Overdrive does do paging with dpad right, so it should work for you (that's how I got it to work with volume keys--the volume keys are set to generate dpad left/right when in Overdrive). Occasionally you have to press it twice (just as you occasionally have to press volume- twice with my input method).

[pruss]

Originally Posted by bwaldron

I don't use Overdrive -- but this is already built-in on recent versions of the Kindle App (from the Home screen, select More -> Settings -> Volume Buttons Control)

Good to know. But it doesn't disable key repeat, and the key repeat on volume keys is too fast--it's easy to turn two pages when you only want to turn one.

[pruss]

Originally Posted by =X=

Also most apps allow swyping, but are you aware most apps also allow a tap on the top/bottom corners to advance or decrease the page?

But then either I have to pull out a stylus or get the screen dirty, and my device's touchscreen isn't that responsive.

Plus it requires use of a second hand, while I can hold my Archos so that the volume keys lie right under a thumb or forefinger. I guess I'm really lazy.

[pruss]

Alas, it looks like I may not be using this so much, because Swype finally works on my device. :-) / :-(

[=X=]

Originally Posted by pruss

But then either I have to pull out a stylus or get the screen dirty, and my device's touchscreen isn't that responsive.

Plus it requires use of a second hand, while I can hold my Archos so that the volume keys lie right under a thumb or forefinger. I guess I'm really lazy.

Interesting I guess the hardware layout of each device will make this feature useful or not. On the nook the volume buttons are on the top right corner and it's a pain to have to change the volume on the nook(I'm lazy too). Tapping the screen is much easier.

=X=

[pruss]

Wonder if I could set something up to switch to my input method when starting overdrive, and then switch back to swype. There is an app that switches input methods based on orientation, so it can't be completely out of the question, though it would require root.

[good153]

Thank you a lot, Pruss. I cannot wait to try it.